Saintpaulia plant named `Stardust`

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of Saintpaulia plant named `Stardust`, characterized by its compact plant habit; moderate growth rate; durable dark green foliage; medium pink frilled flowers; and numerous longlasting flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSaintpaulia or African Violet, botanically known as Saintpauliaionantha, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Stardust`.Itis anticipated that the plant of this application will be marketed underthe Trademark "Ultra Violet". Accordingly, the plant of this applicationmay be referred to as "Ultra Violet" `Stardust` in the market place.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Oberlin, Ohio. The objective of the breeding program wasto develop compact and durable Saintpaulia varieties with numerous,upright, long-lasting flowers and uniform flowering.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of theSaintpaulia cultivar B-3612 (not patented) as the male or pollen parent,with an unnamed proprietary seedling selection as the female or seedparent. The cultivar `Stardust` was discovered and selected by theinventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross ina controlled environment in Oberlin, Ohio.

In side-by-side comparisons in Oberlin, Ohio, under commercial practice,plants of the new Saintpaulia were more compact, had more symmetricalfoliage, and flowered uniformly and earlier than either Saintpauliaparent.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings taken atOberlin, Ohio, has shown that the unique features of this newSaintpaulia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Stardust`. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new Saintpaulia plant as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Compact plant habit.

2. Moderate growth rate.

3. Durable dark green foliage.

4. Medium pink frilled flowers that are held upright.

5. Numerous long-lasting flowers.

The new Saintpaulia plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Flower andfoliage colors in the photograph may appear different than that actualcolors due to light reflectance. The photograph comprises a topperspective view of a typical potted plant of `Stardust`.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Oberlin, OH, under a double layer ofpolyethylene covering with average day and night temperatures of 21° C.and an average light level of 1,500 foot-candles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar `Stardust`.

Commercial.--Saintpaulia or African Violet.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar B-3612 (notpatented).

Female or seed parent.--Unnamed proprietary seedling selection.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Leaves outwardly arching, flowers held upright and abovethe foliage.

Growth habit and rate.--Moderately vigorous, yet compact. Suitable for10-cm containers. Time to produce a finished flowering plant in a 10-cmcontainer from a rooted plantlet is generally 8 to 10 weeks depending ontemperature, light level, and cultural practices.

Height, soil level to top of leaves.--About 3.5 cm.

Height, soil level to top of flowers.--About 8 cm.

Distance, top of leaves to top of flowers.--About 5.5 cm.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Rosette, leaves outwardly arching.

Leaf appearance.--Leaves have distinct raised or quilted interveinalareas.

Quantity of leaves.--About 20 per 4-inch pot.

Leaf size, largest leaves.--Leaf length: About 6.5 cm. Leaf width: About5.5 cm.

Leaf shape.--Ovate.

Leaf tip.--Acute.

Leaf base.--Cordate.

Margin.--Slightly crenate.

Leaf surface.--Raised or quilted interveinal areas.

Texture.--Leathery, glossy, pubescent, durable.

Pubescence.--Moderate on both upper and under sides.

Venation pattern.--Pinnate.

Color.--Young foliage: Upper side: Darker than 147A. Under side: Darkerthan 186A. Venation upper side: Darker than 147A. Venation under side:147C. Mature foliage: Upper side: Darker than 147A. Under side: 186A.Venation upper side: Darker than 147A. Venation under side: 186A.

Petiole.--Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Tubular.Pubescence: Moderate. Aspect: Horizontal. Color: 187A.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement.--Branched panicle, flowers held upright and abovethe foliage.

Flower appearance.--Semi-double, frilled, fused corolla with five petalsand several petaloids. Two upper petals usually smaller than the lowerthree petals with a crest or tuft of petaloids at the center, but lessthan a full second row of petals. Flowers may appear single.

Flower longevity.--Individual flowers last approximately 7 to 10 days.Inflorescences are generally in flower for approximately 3 to 4 weeksunder greenhouse conditions. Flowers persistent.

Quantity of flowers per peduncle.--Generally 12 to 15 open flowers andflower buds at a time are present, usually 4 to 5 per particle branch.

Flower diameter.--About 3.75 cm.

Flower depth, base of calyx to upper petal surface.--About 3 mm.

Petals.--Appearance: Velvety, satiny. Texture: Smooth. Arrangement: Fivefused into a corolla, overlapping. Upper two petals smaller than lowerthree petals. Several small petaloids arranged as a crest or tuft justabove the center of the corolla. Shape: Ovate, rounded. Margin: Ruffled.Tip: Rounded. Size: Largest petals, length: About 2 cm. Largest petals,width: About 2 cm. Smallest petals, length: About 1.5 cm. Smallestpetals, width: About 1.7 cm. Color: When opening: 62D. Upper side: Base:62B. Center: 62C. Margins: 62C. Under side: 62D.

Petaloids.--Arrangement: Small arranged in a tuft or crest just abovethe center of the corolla. Quantity: Usually 1 to 3. Appearance:Velvety, satiny. Texture: Smooth. Shape: Ovate, rounded. Margin: Frilledor ruffled. Tip: Rounded. Size: Length: About 7.5 mm. Width: About 7.5mm. Color: When opening: 62D. Upper side: 62B. Under side: 62D. Base:88A. Center: 88A. Margins: 88A. Fading to: Maintains color, does notfade.

Peduncle.--Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter, at base: About 3 mm.Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect. Pubescence: Moderate. Color: Base: 183A.Apex: 187A.

Flower bud, just before opening.--Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 9mm. Form or shape: Spherical. Rate of opening: Rapid. Color: 157C withpink tinge.

Calyx/sepals.--Calyx shape: Star-shaped. Calyx size: Height: About 6 mm.Width: About 1 cm. Sepal shape: Linear. Sepal arrangement: Fused atbase. Sepal size: Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Sepal texture:Pubescent. Sepal number: 5. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal tip: Pointed.Sepal color: Upper side: 146A. Under side: 187A.

Stamens, mature flower.--Stamen number: 2. Anther size: Length: About 3mm. Width: About 3 mm. Height: About 2 mm. Anther color: 7A. Filamentlength: About 4 mm. Filament color: 155D.

Pistils.--Pistil number: 1. Style color: 62A. Style length: About 5 mm.Receptacle height: About 5 mm. Receptacle width: About 3 mm.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance orsusceptibility to pathogens of Saintpaulias has not been observed.

Seed production: is rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Saintpaulia plant named `Stardust`,as illustrated and described.